Max Kepler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and outfielder Max Kepler are not in the starting lineup on Sunday when they face St. Louis southpaw Matthew Liberatore. Stott has only made three starts against southpaws throughout the early part of the campaign. Over his previous four contests, Stott has posted a .250/.333/.313 line. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old Stott to return to the starting nine on Monday when he faces San Francisco right-hander Landen Roupp. Kepler has only made two starts this season against left-handed pitching. As a result, Edmundo Sosa will cover the keystone, and Johan Rojas will take a spot in the outfield. The Phillies' offense is worth targeting in DFS this afternoon, facing Liberatore, who enters Sunday with a hefty 5.84 ERA.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (back) is starting in left field and batting third in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber. Kepler was removed from Sunday's spring training game due to a back injury after he crashed into the outfield wall, but he'll only end up missing one day. It means that the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will be ready to go for Opening Day next Thursday, March 27, versus the division-rival Washington Nationals on the road in D.C. In theory, Kepler should be more attractive as a depth outfielder in deep-mixed fantasy leagues in 2025 with the move to a more potent lineup in Philly, and he'll enter the season as the club's primary left fielder on the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitchers. However, the German native is an injury risk and has played in over 150 games just once in 10 big-league seasons.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (back) is dealing with a bruised lower back and doesn't currently have a timetable for a return. Kepler collided with the outfield wall in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles and had to leave the game. The 32-year-old veteran wasn't in the lineup on Monday and will apparently miss a bit more time at the tail end of camp. With Opening Day coming next Thursday, March 27, against the division-rival Washington Nationals, it's entirely possible that he'll have to open his first year in Philly on the injured list. When healthy, Kepler should be on the strong side of a platoon in left field, but he may need to pick it up offensively in order to keep that role. The injury-prone outfielder played in only 105 games in his final season with the Twins and hit .253 with eight home runs and 42 RBI.